The Beginning of the Twentieth Century Crisis: War and Revolution
Essential Questions
What were the central causes (both long-range and immediate) of WWI?
How did WWI affect the governmental and political institutions, economic affairs, and social life of Europe?
What were the causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917, and how did the Bolsheviks prevail in the civil war and gain control of Russia?
What was the relationship between WWI and the Russian Revolution?
What were the objectives of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919?
Big Ideas
Student should understand there were several long-term events as well as immediate events that led to the outbreak of WWI. The most prominent factors include: nationalism, militarism, imperialism, the Balkan and Morocco crises, and the alliance system. Ironically, these things were either started in response to, or upheld because of, one of the other factors. The alliance system was one of the last factors to emerge before the war. Consequentially, the contributions of this system to the beginning of the Great War have to be considered. Although the alliance system was a main cause of the First World War, it arose because of several other factors, and did not cause the war by itself. The immediate cause of World War I that made all the "isms" come into play as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances.
Students should understand that WWI affected the governmental and political institutions, economic affairs, and social life of Europe. All countries involved, even the democracies, severely reduced personal liberties for the duration of the war. All countries had to deal with internal conflicts, both from minorities and from citizens deprived of what they considered the necessities of a good life. Because so many men were recruited to fight, women in many of the countries moved into jobs previously reserved for men. During the war Russia was convulsed by revolution, and both Austria and Germany saw revolutions as they surrendered at the end of the war. All belligerents suffered economic devastation, and all of Europe entered the 1920's financially weak.
Students should understand the causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Tsar Nicholas was the most autocratic ruler in Europe, supported by his army and secret police, presiding over a nation living in poverty. Russia, without a strong industrial base, was unprepared for the war and suffered heavy losses on the battlefield and hunger at home. The royal family lost prestige among the upper classes because the tsarina insisted on keeping the "faith healer" Rasputin in the family circle for the sake of her son. The March (1917) Revolution set up a Provisional Government, headed by Alexander Kerensky, which failed to end the unpopular war and solve the nation’s economic problems. Lenin, returning from exile in Switzerland, led the October Revolution, which established a Bolshevik regime, ended the war with surrender, and instituted programs to feed the nation.
Students should understand the relationship between WWI and the Russian Revolution. Russia, without considering their military weakness, entered the war to establish themselves as stronger participants in European affairs, particularly in the Balkans. The war went badly for them, and in March, 1917, revolutionaries arrested the tsar and his family and established a Provisional Government. When this government failed to end the unpopular war, with its great losses, Lenin’s Bolsheviks led a second revolution and assumed power in October. Just as the war shifted to the Allies’ advantage, the Russians met with the Germans at Brest-Litovsk and surrendered. The Russian Revolution might have come had there been no war, but the war exaggerated Russia’s problems and hastened the end of the tsarist regime.
Students should understand the main events of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson hoped to that the conference would achieve justice and a lasting peace. The Italians wanted the land in Dalmatia, as the French had promised them if they would switch sides and fight with the Allies. The British and especially the French wanted to end, once and for all, German military and economic superiority in Europe. The Germans, who were not represented at the conference, hoped for a new European system based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points. Only the British and French got their wishes, and by punishing Germany they only created resentment and the climate for another conflict
Primary Sources
Visual (A piece of propaganda which reads "Women of Britain: Say-'Go!'") As the conflict of war persisted, governments resorted to active propaganda campaigns to generate enthusiasm for the war. In this British recruiting poster, the government tried to pressure men into volunteering for military services, by having their wives tell them to "Go!". By 1916, the British were forced to begin compulsory military service. But what does this reveal that is significant? First of all, for a few years, Britain's military was able to survive on volunteers just by using simple propaganda, showing a large amount of nationalistic spirit and dedication to the country. I think it would be interesting to view similar posters from other countries across Europe at the same time and see their tactics, although I have not found such documents myself. This certainly reflects the voice of the government, and therefore has a bit a controlling, powerful feel, which could have been perceived badly at the time. The inclusion of the family certainly is meant to appeal to the emotions of the men and the soldiers in the corner suggest the "right decision" would be to help one's country.
The romantic illusions about the excitement and adventure of war filled the minds of many young men as they marched off to battle. However, these feelings quickly disintegrated after a short time in the trenches of the Western Front. Trench warfare is described throughout this passage taken from the most famous novel that emerged from WWI, Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, written in 1929 after he fought in the trenches in France. Since he was present in the action, his point of view of a soldier can be greatly trusted. This source shows the conditions that the thousands of soldiers were facing daily. However, what I think makes this primary source increasingly interesting and important is when it is combined and compared with the songs of World War I. The songs sung by soldiers of different nationalities varied considerably. Germans focused on heroism and patriotism while the British partook in black humor, and the American view on the European condition. Combining the view of a soldier involved in Trench Warfare and the songs of soldiers in various countries demonstrates that each country had a very different viewpoint on the war, but all were enraptured and seem to pose strong ideals of nationalism as well.
Useful Maps
Europe Pre WWI, 1914
By 1914, two alliances dominated Europe: the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Russia sought to bolster fellow Slavs in Serbia, whereas Austria-Hungary was set on increasing its power in the Balkans and thwarting Serbia's ambitions. Therefore, the Balkans became the main point for WWI.
Europe Post WWI, 1919
The victorious allies met in Paris to determine the shaped and nature of postwar Europe. AT the urging of the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, many nationalist aspirations of former imperial subjects were realized with the creation of several new countries from the prewar territory of Austria-Hungary, German, and Rusia.
Chapter 25:
The Beginning of the Twentieth Century Crisis: War and Revolution
Essential Questions
Big Ideas
Primary Sources
Visual
(A piece of propaganda which reads "Women of Britain: Say-'Go!'")
As the conflict of war persisted, governments resorted to active propaganda campaigns to generate enthusiasm for the war. In this British recruiting poster, the government tried to pressure men into volunteering for military services, by having their wives tell them to "Go!". By 1916, the British were forced to begin compulsory military service. But what does this reveal that is significant? First of all, for a few years, Britain's military was able to survive on volunteers just by using simple propaganda, showing a large amount of nationalistic spirit and dedication to the country. I think it would be interesting to view similar posters from other countries across Europe at the same time and see their tactics, although I have not found such documents myself. This certainly reflects the voice of the government, and therefore has a bit a controlling, powerful feel, which could have been perceived badly at the time. The inclusion of the family certainly is meant to appeal to the emotions of the men and the soldiers in the corner suggest the "right decision" would be to help one's country.
Written
Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front
http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/tpsocialsciences/world_history/world_war1/remarque.htm
The romantic illusions about the excitement and adventure of war filled the minds of many young men as they marched off to battle. However, these feelings quickly disintegrated after a short time in the trenches of the Western Front. Trench warfare is described throughout this passage taken from the most famous novel that emerged from WWI, Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, written in 1929 after he fought in the trenches in France. Since he was present in the action, his point of view of a soldier can be greatly trusted. This source shows the conditions that the thousands of soldiers were facing daily. However, what I think makes this primary source increasingly interesting and important is when it is combined and compared with the songs of World War I. The songs sung by soldiers of different nationalities varied considerably. Germans focused on heroism and patriotism while the British partook in black humor, and the American view on the European condition. Combining the view of a soldier involved in Trench Warfare and the songs of soldiers in various countries demonstrates that each country had a very different viewpoint on the war, but all were enraptured and seem to pose strong ideals of nationalism as well.
Useful Maps
Europe Pre WWI, 1914
By 1914, two alliances dominated Europe: the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Russia sought to bolster fellow Slavs in Serbia, whereas Austria-Hungary was set on increasing its power in the Balkans and thwarting Serbia's ambitions. Therefore, the Balkans became the main point for WWI.
Europe Post WWI, 1919
The victorious allies met in Paris to determine the shaped and nature of postwar Europe. AT the urging of the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, many nationalist aspirations of former imperial subjects were realized with the creation of several new countries from the prewar territory of Austria-Hungary, German, and Rusia.
Important Terms
Assessment
10 Question Quiz:Answers:
Examples of free response questions:
1. To what extent and in what ways did Nationalist tension in the Balkans between 1870 and 1914 contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?
2. What were the conditions, factors, and events that led—both directly and indirectly—to the outbreak of WWI?
3. Describe the Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles. To what degree and in what ways were they and were they not successful?
4. Describe the causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and how the Bolsheviks prevailed in the civil war and gained control of Russia.
Facebook
V.I. Lenin's facebook pageSources used
Spielvogel!www.historyteacher.net
http://www.marxists.org/archive/rothstein/1919/07/power.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
http://www.pvhs.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/great_war/causes.htm
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/westn/effectww1.html
http://www.futurecasts.com/book%20review%2010-4.htm